“The images show two small patrol boats akin to a civilian speed boat, and a larger boat known as a Houdong fast attack craft. Each are typical of the kind of craft the IRGC uses in the region, sometimes to harass American and other ships transiting through the strait. Iranian officials in a report in state media confirmed that speedboats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy ‘escorted’ the U.S. warships through the strait, defending the incident as longstanding practice. The news account, on the website of the semiofficial FARS news agency, also warned that the small but heavily armed boats could destroy the American vessels.”
Iran consistently maintains a war footing toward the U.S., while the U.S. consistently pretends that this is not the case. Get the details in my new book, The Complete Infidel’s Guide to Iran.
“Navy Images Show Iranian Boats in Incident Involving Top U.S. General,” by Gordon Lubold, Wall Street Journal, July 12, 2016:
AMMAN, Jordan—The U.S. military has released photos of Iranian boats that approached two Navy warships Monday as they transited through the Strait of Hormuz with a special passenger aboard: Gen. Joe Votel, the head of U.S. Central Command, which oversees all U.S. forces in the Middle East.
The images, which aren’t typically released by the military, were captured by U.S. Navy personnel aboard the amphibious ship USS New Orleans and the destroyer USS Stout on Monday during a series of “interactions” between those two ships and smaller patrol boats operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, or IRGC.
The images show two small patrol boats akin to a civilian speed boat, and a larger boat known as a Houdong fast attack craft. Each are typical of the kind of craft the IRGC uses in the region, sometimes to harass American and other ships transiting through the strait.
Iranian officials in a report in state media confirmed that speedboats operated by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy “escorted” the U.S. warships through the strait, defending the incident as longstanding practice. The news account, on the website of the semiofficial FARS news agency, also warned that the small but heavily armed boats could destroy the American vessels.
“Monitoring foreign vessels in regions where the IRGC Navy conducts its missions is not a new thing and it is always done on a routine basis and round the clock,” Gen. Alireza Tangsiri, the lieutenant commander of the IRGC navy, said in the report. He emphasized that the IRGC Navy is assigned to monitor foreign vessels, especially those operated by “the enemies of the Islamic Revolution and the Great Satan, the U.S.”
U.S. officials said that on Monday, the IRGC sent a total of five boats, including a fast attack craft and four of the smaller patrol boats to approach the New Orleans and the Stout, as Gen. Votel rode aboard the New Orleans. It was unclear if the IRGC knew initially of Gen. Votel’s visit to the ship….

JeffS says
And the reason we don’t blast them out of the water is….?
Cecilia Ellis says
JeffS queried: “And the reason we don’t blast them out of the water is….?”
The answer to which is . . . Obama.
Hwilsongoon says
Because those are international waters.
Unless those craft were directly attacking naval warships the only shooting legally carried out was via camera phone.
Cecilia Ellis says
If those waters are indeed international waters, then the U. S. Navy exercises the same right to respond to harassment . . . with equivalent harassment. In view of the USS Cole incident, the presence of approaching vessels might well raise concerns. I do agree with you, however, that firing at vessels in international waters breaks maritime laws unless those vessels have first been attacked.
Hwilsongoon says
Agreed. They could’ve used water cannon or shots across the bows with concussion blasts. Would send them scattering in seconds.
But, since I’m not an Admiral but an armchair warrior I’ll let the experts do their job.
Cecilia Ellis says
Hwilsongoon wrote: “But, since I’m not an Admiral but an armchair warrior I’ll let the experts do their job.”
That is a very good point . . . which brings me back to my original comment. Due to the nature of the Obama administration’s insistence on a U.S.-Iran nuclear deal, which essentially rewards the tyrannical Iranian regime while simultaneously jeopardizing global security, there appears to be a reluctance on the part of experts to do their jobs. This reluctance does not merely manifest itself in the Department of Defense, although the example of the relatively recent, Iranian capture of two U. S. riverine boats suggests that experts might not be doing their jobs adequately.
The “Leading from Behind” strategy has relegated the United States to a position of appeasement, not a position of leadership. Our experts either no longer have the opportunity to provide the Obama regime with valuable expertise or they choose not to do so for any number of unknown reasons. As an example, the following extract is provided:
“President Barack Obama twice appointed former Lt. Gen. Michael T. Flynn to key national security jobs in his administration, including as deputy director of national intelligence and later as director of the Defense Intelligence Agency, yet he never once met with Flynn face to face . . . The general, who spent 33 years in the intelligence field, told The Daily Caller News Foundation he was never called in for a face-to-face meeting with Obama to offer his assessment of ISIS as it rampaged through the Middle East, or during the political meltdown of Libya and Egypt, or on Iran’s efforts to build a nuclear bomb, or of the “Russian reset” that ended in shambles.
In four years, Flynn was never invited to brief the president on any kind of intelligence issue. Ever.”
As Flynn stated, “Here is the crux of my relationship with Obama . . . Here I am, running one of the largest intelligence agencies in the world. He appoints me twice — one as the assistant director of national intelligence and one as the director of the Defense Intelligence Agency. I’m also his senior intelligence officer . . . I never met with him once.”
http://constitution.com/bombshell-obama-didnt-meet-defense-intelligence-chief-one-single-time/
If the expert response does not support the Obama narrative, that expertise is rendered useless, until such a point that it possibly is no longer a valuable resource or presented at all.
Quite frankly, Iran considers the United States to be an enemy. Something about the constant chants of “Death to America” suggests that hatred is not about to dissipate. Therefore, Iran will continue to humiliate America at every opportunity, whether on land, at sea or in the air. Why? Because Obama has shown them that they can.
As such, I stand by my statement: “The answer to which is . . . Obama.”
sam says
Well I would not be surprised if our navy would be exchanging security info with number one enemy Iran under orders from Obama and Company.
Of course we are losing against Islam. If anyone thinks otherwise they are reading only The New York Times.
Angemon says
Camel, nose, tent, etc.
Dexter L. Wilson says
We Know that Obama wants Iran to be the dominant power in the Middle East. He wants to see America weaker than even the European Union. Can there be any other conclusion? He does not care. Can’t even talk about God in a speech at funerals or special events concerning the military for fear of offending Muslims and atheists;
Donovan Nuera says
Would be nice if, let’s say, one of our trained Navy dolphins breeched right next to their lil’ boatie-boat and knocked one of their crewmen into the sea with a well-aimed fluke strike….and then dragged them down by their foot to 400′ for several minutes….
it’s not like dolphins wear uniforms so who can say if was not just a regular local dolphin….
islam the religion of killers says
The Americans should take photo’s of their ships with the Iranian fast attack boats in the foreground, publishing these pictures would dispel the idea the Iranians have more than 2 seconds to live if they fired a shot ..
Although I’d expect with Obama in charge, the 2 second response would take 2 days to be approved ..
steve says
Another reason to vote Trump in. The British Royal Navy was HUMILIATED in 2007 when ‘Allah’s All Powerful, Iranian, High Seas Fleet. [i.e. 2 tiny wooden craft ] boarded and arrested boats containing British Royal Marines. The nearby British Warship, H.M.S. Cornwall, fled, leaving its sailors in the hands of Iran.The Captain of the ship was eventually removed from his ‘command’ to a job ‘more fitting to his experience and capabilities’ probably he now is now Promoted to Admiral of the Fleet. Obviously the decision to sacrifice a few marines and sailors rather than attempt a face to face showdown with the superior, aggressive,professional, World dominating sea power of Iran was considered by the British Government as a ‘lucky break’. and now the U.S. Navy, the navy of Nimitz and Bull Halsey are seen as ‘chicken’ when faced by Allah’s finest sailors.
maddog20-20 says
Were the boats that the “chu hois” gave up a few months ago ever returned? Never saw any news reports on that. I believe that there were 2 of the,.
maddog20-20 says
…….also…… Where is there no more talk about the 35 BILLION dollar Boeing/Iran aircraft deal? One short news cycle last week, buried amongst filler stories, revealed a deal that HAD to be going on before and/or during the kerry/obama sellout. This should be a top priority right now.